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New York City remains the highest cost of construction market in the United States, but the rate of increase in 2016 was more in line with cost increases nationally than in recent years, according to a New York Building Congress analysis of multiple cost indices and interviews with representatives of some of the citys largest construction firms.

Construction costs in New York City increased by approximately 4 percent in 2016, which is slightly less than the 5 percent rate of cost inflation that was experienced annually throughout the five boroughs from 2013 through 2015. By comparison, U.S. construction costs rose between 3 and 4 percent in 2016 after rising between 2.5 to 3 percent annually from 2013 through 2015.

The construction executives interviewed for this report expect that New York City construction costs will continue to accelerate at roughly the current rate of one percent per quarter through 2017.

During the height of last decades building boom, construction cost increases exceeded 6 percent nationally but were nearly twice as high in New York City, with reports of construction cost increases reaching 12 percent in 2006 and 11 percent in 2007. In 2009, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, costs declined both nationally and in New York City and registered a nominal gain in 2010. Costs in New York City gradually increased, by between 2 and 3.25 percent annually between 2010 and 2012, before jumping again in 2013.

CARLO SCISSURA

No matter what sector you analyze commercial, residential, corporate interiors, healthcare, education and cultural construction activity remains robust, which means a stretched labor force, increased use of overtime, and an ability for contractors to pick and choose which projects to pursue, said New York Building Congress President and CEO Carlo A. Scissura. These factors were the primary drivers of cost inflation in 2016.

He added, That said, we are not experiencing the type of inflation we experienced during the last decades construction boom. Part of the reason is that the overall cost of construction materials has remained relatively flat.

The cost indices used by the Building Congress are produced by ENR, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), RS Means, Turner, and BLS. Each index examines the hard costs of construction while excluding the cost of land and soft costs, such as architectural, engineering, and legal fees.

Sector Analysis

According to the data sources and construction executives, construction costs are greatest on a per-square-foot basis for hospitals, followed by university buildings, five-star hotels, and office space.

Cost acceleration is especially prevalent in the office sector, due in part to a substantial increase in the amount of work underway including ground-up construction, alterations and renovation of existing office buildings, and production of prime, built-to-suit office spaces.

The continued increase in office work is expected to offset an anticipated decline in the residential sector, which is a reversal from years past when a white-hot housing market served as the primary driver of cost inflation. While the residential market remains a steady source of work, the sector has been negatively impacted by the lack of clear direction on the future of the 421a tax incentive program, which is disproportionately affecting the production of new affordable housing.

One thing to keep an eye on is the impact of increased competition among contractors, noted Mr. Scissura. As the universe of non-union and open shop contractors has grown in number and sophistication, it has presented owners and developers with more choices and a wider range of competitive bids, especially among firms that are looking to establish a track record in the five boroughs.

Comparing NYC to Other Cities

When measured in U.S dollars, building in New York City has gotten considerably more expensive than other international cities over the past year. While this is due in part to cost increases and greater demand for construction services locally, it is also a function of the dramatically weakened rate of exchange of foreign economies against the dollar.

For example, according to RLB, a premium office building that costs $550 per square foot to build in New York City, would cost $174 in Berlin, $155 in Shanghai, and $365 in London. In 2015, the cost of that building would have been roughly the same in London and New York.

Turning to the U.S., the hard costs of construction per square foot in New York City are significantly higher than Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. and slightly greater on average than San Francisco, which is the second most expensive major U.S. city.

The cost to construct prime New York City office space is more than 20 percent greater than Boston, which is the next leading contender. New York also registers the highest construction costs nationwide for hospitals, hotels, and retail, though construction of multi-family apartment buildings remains more expensive to build in San Francisco than New York City.

Photo top: David H. Koch, NY-Presbyterian expansion, viaField Condition

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Commercial sunrooms by Solar Innovations provide the strength, durability, and customization options second to none in the industry. Solars sunrooms can be directly on the ground, 25 stories in the air, or anywhere in between. Restaurants, hospitals, and retirement homes can all benefit from the additional natural light provided by the implementation of a sunroom. Not only do sunrooms expand conditioned living space, they also provide natural light and protection from the elements. Sunrooms provide guests and customers alike with scenic seating areas for dining or simply enjoying nature without having to leave the building, all while increasing the property value.

Solar Innovations can design aluminum sunrooms with various options for solid wood or wood laminate interiors, combining the strength and quality Solar Innovations is known for with the warmth that makes a house a home. Our sunrooms can also be outfitted with heating and cooling units, which will allow you to enjoy your sunroom year round.

Residential sunrooms can be designed as small additions or large, free standing structures all dimensions, shape, materials, and configurations are custom designed for each project. Solars sunrooms are constructed from durable aluminum framework and the HVHZ certifications speak to the strength engineered into every structure solar produces. Many in the industry know the all-aluminum look, though preferential in many commercial applications, may detract from a homes warm, inviting feel.

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M. Daigle and Sons specializes in sunroom additions in Jacksonville, FL that allow you to enjoy outdoors from the comfort of indoors. Often called Florida rooms, theserooms let you enjoy a panoramic view of your coastal community, while regulating climate and preventing bugs and pests. Click here to get special discounts on sunroom additions.

Considering adding a sunroom to your home, but want to avoid breaking the bank? Our sunroom contractors strive to meet your individual needs to implement plans that perfectly suit your lifestyle and the layout of your home. Choose from various sunroom designs, created by our skilled professionals. Enhance the vivacity of your home by implementingM. Daigle & Sons sunroom additions! We are conveniently located in Jacksonville, FL and look forward to help you with your home improvement, remodeling, and renovation projects.

We help you build out in less time, at a great price. How do we do this?

We work differently than other sunroom contractors. How do we stand out?

Our customers are so pleased with the quality of their new additions; they often convert the outdoor/indoor spaces into living rooms, family rooms, and dining areas. M. Daigle and Sons builds each addition to meet specifications on site. We do not prefabricate.

There are a few aspects that should be considered before designing your own sunroom. Because it is more convenient to construct a sunroom when you have your own design and style, we ensure the following aspects are under our purview:

We ensure that the sunroom is a great addition to your house by adapting to various purposes, such as a playroom or an awesome place to entertain guests. We provide sunroom plans that fit your budget and offers quality that you can flaunt in front of your friends.

Our professional sunroom contractors help you with the perfect ideas to beautify and secure your sunroom. At M Daigle and Sons, we take pride in being one of the best sunroom contractors of Jacksonville, Florida. This means that our customers are assured of the best services and first-rate quality.

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The gorgeous gray-shingled mansion at 3 West End Road, East Hampton, better known as Grey Gardens, has hit the market for $19.95 million.

The home, previously occupied by Jackie Kennedy relatives "Big Edie" and "Little Edie" Bouvier Beale, was made famous in the 1975 documentary film, "Grey Gardens," which uncovered the pair's shocking living conditions.

Plagued by limited funds, the mother and daughter retreated into isolation and resided for decades in the once-handsome home that fell into a state of disrepair and decay, infested by fleas, inhabited by numerous cats and raccoons, deprived of running water and filled with garbage. Health inspectors even reported spotting human waste in the upstairs bedrooms.

Click through to see the home's incredible transformation:

31 PHOTOS

'Grey Gardens' home then and now

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EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: Edith Bouvier (first cousin of Jackie Onassis) Beale at her home 'Grey Gardens' on January 8, 1972 in New York, United States. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: Edith Bouvier (first cousin of Jackie Onassis) Beale at her home 'Grey Gardens' on January 8, 1972 in New York, United States. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

EAST HAMPTON, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JANUARY 8: Edith Bouvier (first cousin of Jackie Onassis) Beale at her home 'Grey Gardens' on January 8, 1972 in New York, United States. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/WireImage)

Visitors outside Grey Gardens, home of Edith Bouvier Beale (aka 'Little Edie,' first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill), on 3 West End Ave in Georgica Pond, East Hampton, New York. September 1, 1972. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

Edith Bouvier Beale poses near the Paris Theater in New York, where the controversial film Grey Gardens is playing. Some critics have labeled the film 'exploitative' while others have praised it. Edith Bouvier Beale and her mother, relatives of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, live in a decaying mansion on Long Island. The movie brings viewers inside their home and into their lives and relationship with each other.

'Little' Edith Bouvier Beale (1917 - 2002, right), a cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, at home with her mother 'Big Edie' (1896 - 1977) in Grey Gardens, a run-down mansion in East Hampton, New York, 1974. This is a scene from the Maysles brothers documentary 'Grey Gardens'. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

'Little' Edith Bouvier Beale (1917 - 2002), a cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, at home with her mother, 'Big Edie' (1896 - 1977), in Grey Gardens, a run-down mansion in East Hampton, New York, circa 1975. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Edith Bouvier Beale (aka 'Little Edie,' first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill), at home in Grey Gardens in Georgica Pond, East Hampton, New York. September 1, 1972. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

Visitors outside Grey Gardens, home of Edith Bouvier Beale (aka 'Little Edie,' first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Radziwill), on 3 West End Ave in Georgica Pond, East Hampton, New York. September 1, 1972. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

Edith Bouvier Beale (1917 - 2002), a cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, at home in Grey Gardens, a run-down mansion in East Hampton, New York, circa 1975. (Photo by Tom Wargacki/Archive Photos/Getty Images)

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"Little Edie" sold the house in 1979 after her mother's death for $220,000 ($726,000 today) to current owners Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, who restored the dilapidated home, maintaining the original gray shingle color -- a Hamptons signature.

Despite keeping the original structure of the home, there is hardly any trace of the mansion's former condition.

Featuring seven bedrooms and six and a half baths, the home oozes grandeur with tasteful touches that invoke its storied history, like warm hardwood floors, a terracotta-tiled sunroom and Tudor-style diamond-paned bay windows.

In addition to a Har-Tru tennis court and heated swimming pool, a quaint stucco cottage sits on the property's lush (yet manicured) two-acre grounds.

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Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings is lined up to get remodeled as part of Dakota Countys ongoing push to update its libraries.

The countys 2017 budget includes $2.8 million for improvements to the Hastings library, which has not been renovated since it opened in 1994.

For a number of years, Pleasant Hill was functioning at an adequate level and other needs at other branches became more pressing, said Margaret Stone, director of Dakota County Library, which operates nine libraries.

Now, county officials are focusing on getting Pleasant Hill up to speed with more modern amenities and possibly more space, Stone said.

More private work areas for patrons, a larger meeting room for group events and more backroom space for staff are high priorities, she said.

The small meeting room is by far the biggest issue, she said.

A consulting firm hired by the county recently completed a comprehensive needs assessment and submitted a space plan, three schematic designs and an estimated budget. The study will be the focus of an informational open house for residents from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the library, 1490 South Frontage Road.

Dakota County has recently been aggressively expanding and remodeling its libraries. Its long-range facilities plan recommends renovations on a 12- to 15-year cycle to adjust program space to meet changing needs.

Wescott Library in Eagan was renovated in 2009, followed by Burnhaven in Burnsville in 2010, Farmington Library in 2013 and Inver Glen in Inver Grove Heights in 2014.

Work on a $5.4 million remodel of Galaxie Library in Apple Valley will start this fall and include a multipurpose lab at the buildings entrance; a consolidated staff area with a relocated drive-up book drop; and an educational play area for children.

Originally built in 1990 as part of thecountys Western Service Center, Galaxie Library underwent minor remodeling in 2004.

Meanwhile, a needs assessment for Heritage Library in Lakeville will be completed this year.

Two of the remodeling designs for Pleasant Hill include an addition to the building, Stone said.

We need to have better work spaces for people who bring in their own devices, she said. Our wireless use is growing through the roof.

A recommended remodeling option could go before the county board for approval in mid-March, she said.

When it comes to visitors, Pleasant Hill has the third-lowest gate count among the countys libraries.Last year, 143,000 people visited the library, which hosted nearly 300 programs.

By comparison,Galaxie, the countys busiest location, had a gate count of more than 312,000.

Because of its location, Pleasant Hill pulls in residents from rural townships south of Hastings as well as southern Washington County residents, Stone said.

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Hastings library set to get a remodel, possibly more space - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Discount grocer Aldi will spend $1.6 billion to remodel and expand more than 1,300 of its 1,600 U.S. stores in the next few years, including making more room for fresh and organic produce, as well as dairy, bakery and meat sections, the retailer said Wednesday.

Aldi, whose U.S. operations are based in Batavia, is also in the midst of spending $3 billion on land, facilities and equipment to open, as previously announced, an additional 650 locations nationwide. Last year, for example, it entered the Southern California market.

The store renovations, which also will include more airy ceilings, natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials, are expected to occur by 2020.

Aldi, which operates in 35 states and has more than 24,000 workers, has about 150 stores in the Chicago area. A location in Plainfield is the first store to be remodeled in the Chicago area. The new store layout will grow from an average of 10,000 square feet of selling space to 12,000 square feet.

Aldi didn't immediately have an answer about how many of the new stores would be in the Chicago area or in what suburbs or neighborhoods.

Known for its no-frills stores, Aldi said shoppers won't see higher prices as a result of the company spending billions on remodeled and new stores.

Aldi's private-label brand accounts for about 90 percent of a store's inventory, which allows it to keep its prices low and enables shoppers to spring for pricier products in the store, the company said.

Grocery shoppers have become more finicky, increasingly reaching for food they believe is natural and fresh, generally trading up for quality and down for staples. Natural and gourmet-type stores have flourished, as have discounters. To beat back competition, traditional grocers, including Jewel-Osco, have overhauled their offerings, particularly at the perimeter of the store where customers hunt for fresh produce, meat and prepared foods.

Aldi said it has added several new product lines that in recent years have become popular, including gluten-free and organic foods and a line of premium baby items. It said it also has made such product improvements as removing synthetic colors and partially hydrogenated oils from Aldi-brand foods.

Aldi last year joined other chains that have replaced junk food with healthier options as the call for healthier food intensifies. Its Chicago-area stores said a year ago that they would stock "healthier" fare, including nuts, trail mixes, dried fruits and granola bars, near checkout lines instead of candy. Candy will still be available elsewhere in the store.

byerak@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @beckyyerak

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Seamless Siding, Replacement Windows, Front Doors, and More for Residents of Kansas City, MO, and Beyond

Continental Siding Supply is a home improvement company specializing in siding and windows that has turned more than 50,000 residents of Kansas City, Missouri, into satisfied customers since 1982. Our founder, Jerry ONeal, takes such immense pride in his work that he began manufacturing his own seamless polymer siding and patented a siding installation method, the Perma-Strate Wall System. We offer our customers any type of siding they desire, whether it is polymer siding, vinyl siding, metal siding, cedar shake, or stone veneer. Because we want to provide our customers with the best siding products to meet their needs, we take the time to educate them on the various siding options available. More than 98 percent of our customers choose our seamless polymer siding. This product, together with our propriety installation system, results in superior house siding that virtually eliminates wavy walls, hail damage, sun fading, sick home syndrome, and regular maintenance.

In addition to home siding, we install a wide range of energy-efficient windows. Whether our customers prefer polymer windows, vinyl windows, wood windows, or aluminum windows, we can supply them with gorgeous and durable replacement windows that come in a wide range of popular styles, such as double-hung, picture, bow and bay. We also install gutters, gutter guards, energy-efficient exterior doors, garage doors, roofing, sunrooms, pergolas, and more throughout Kansas City, MO, and all surrounding communities.

At Continental Siding Supply, we help our customers in Kansas City, Missouri, and elsewhere in the surrounding region upgrade their homes from the outside in. Most of our customers who have our house siding and roofing installed also upgrade their gutters with our Continental Water Management System. We offer 5-or 6- inch seamless gutters, in a variety of colors to complement any home siding and roof, as well as gutter covers, to prevent homeowners from ever removing leaves, sticks, and other debris from their gutter systems again.

Additionally, we offer our customers several purchasing methods to best suit their needs. Customers can come in, buy the materials, and install it themselves, or they can have Continental Siding Supply install it for them. Additionally, customers can have a complete design consultation in one of our showrooms or in their own homes.

For more information on our seamless polymer siding, windows and doors, gutters, or any of our other products or services, CALL NOW, and experience for yourself the level of service thats earned us an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We gladly serve homeowners in Kansas City, Missouri, and all surrounding communities.

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By Reuben Saltzman In Masonry Veneer, Stone Siding On September 4, 2012

Without a doubt, the sexiest new siding being used on the front of houses is stone siding. I say stone siding because thats what everyone calls it, but what Im really referring to is Masonry Veneer. This is a man-made product thats meant to look like stone siding, and is installed in a similar manner to stucco.

While masonry veneer looks great, its susceptible to the same moisture problems that stucco is. Moisture testing experts in the Twin Cities agree that this product has experienced the exact same type of moisture intrusion problems asstucco. Building science expert Dr. Joseph Lstiburek actually calls this product lumpy stucco, because thats essentially what it is.

While newer stucco installations are done quite well, the folks installing masonry veneer seem to have a lot of catching up to do on proper installation details. When I inspect masonry veneer, I use the Masonry Veneer Manufacturers Associations installation guide, which you can find here MVMA installation guide. This guide is packed with diagrams showing how to install the material, based on generally accepted methods.

I find the same installation shortcomings over and over. To help illustrate these issues, Ive taken several installation diagrams from MVMAs guide and edited them down to more clearly illustrate where the installations went wrong. As a home inspector, I dont get to see all the different layers of materials that get installed behind the masonry veneer; my inspection is limited to what I can see on the surface, and thats what I report on. To make the installation diagrams easier to understand, Ive removed the labels of all the components thatarentvisible during the course of a home inspection.

Masonry veneer should be kept at least 2 above hard surfaces, such as concrete, and 4 above the soil.

When the material is buried in dirt, water can wick up in to the material and cause rotting at the wall.

There should also be a 2 gap to paving, but this is rarely done especially on columns.

Of course, leaving a 4 gap at the ground isnt the prettiest looking thing in the world, but there is a solution; simply have the weep screed terminated at least 4 above the ground, and have another layer of masonry veneer installed below it, as shown in the diagram below.

The photo below shows this detail done properly.

Heres a close up note the weep screed.

When masonry veneer has a vertical transition to something like wood trim, windows, or other siding materials, it should have a 3/8 gap left between the two different materials. This gap needs to have a foam backer rod pushed behind it, and then filled with sealant to help prevent water intrusion. This is rarely done.

Masonry veneer needs to be kept 2 above roof surfaces to help prevent water from wicking up in to the wall. The photo below shows a common deviation, where the masonry veneer actually touches the shingles. This is just asking for trouble.

Dryer vents, kitchen exhaust vents, bath fan vents, and other similar vent terminals should be pushed up against a bed of sealant, but theyre often buried in masonry. What happens when the vent cover gets broken and needs to be replaced?

Just like dryer vents, exterior sillcocks (aka faucets or hose bibs) need to be embedded in sealant on the surface of the masonry veneer, not buried behind the veneer. What happens when the faucet needs to be replaced?

How many bloody knuckles will this installation cause?

The nice thing about the installation shown above is that they got the vertical transition correct check out that thick bead of caulk.

Of course, this is only a partial list of the things that can go wrong on a masonry veneer installation. If youre planning to have this material installed on your home, make sure the MVMAs installation instructions are followed to help lower the potential for water intrusion. If youre buying a home with masonry veneer already installed, treat it the same way you would stucco consider having invasive moisture testing done.

Reuben Saltzman,Structure Tech Home Inspections

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Protect your home and property against the harsh weather with the help of roofing contractors in Orlando FL.

Alpharetta, GA, February 7, 2017 The roof is an integral part of the home. It does not only protect one from the elements, harsh sunlight to dangerous hailstorms but also protects ones valuable investment. It is important that this structure is well maintained. Cheapest repairs or services can work for a short span of time but fail to provide the long lasting effect on the structure. Calling in an experienced, certified contractors and high-quality materials will be the best option to deal with high-quality roofing.

Roof Depot, a leading roofing company, is the best place forward when it comes to having roofing installation service. Being an approved applicator, they have been dealing with the installation of most commercial, industrial and multi-family products. The experts have the experience, training, and industrial knowledge to handle entire installation and repair needs for roofing in Charlotte NC.

From roofing to siding installation, commercial & residential roof repairs to roof maintenance, they specialize in an extensive area of services. The company has years of experience and knowledge in the industry. Since 1998, they have served residential and commercial roofing needs throughout the Southeast. The technicians receive quality on-going training from reputable manufacturers, ensuring they achieve the necessary skills to perform virtually every area of service categorically required for the repair and installation.

Whether one has a small home or multi-family dwelling, business or commercial building, the company treats every project with dedication and passion. Due to this approach and diligence, the company has earned the loyalty and trust of their clients, employees, suppliers, and associated trade professionals. They approach every project delivering quality artistry quickly, safely, and within your budget.

The technicians being fully certified and licensed can be trusted and relied upon for their service. They also make sure entire task is completed before the stipulated time. For more information on roofing contractors in Orlando FL, visit http://www.roofdepotpros.com/roof-depot-orlando-fl/

About the Company:

Since 1998 Roof Depot has served residential and commercial roofing needs throughout the Southeast. The Company has provided quality products and services to our customers through ongoing training with leading roofing manufacturers.

Source: Roof Depot

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Updated: Feb 8, 2017 - 11:51 AM

LACEY, Wash. - A fire has gutted a warehouse at a roofing company in Lacey.

The owner of MadsenRoofing said a passerby saw flames on the roof of the business on Martin Way andHohStreet Northeast at 3 a.m. Wednesday and called the business office to say there was a fire.

Three fire departments responded to fight the flames.

The owner said the warehouse is a total loss but he is thankful that the office space next door and some mobile equipment survived.

He said the outpouring of support from people in the roofing community has been overwhelming and that he is thankful that no one was hurt.

A Lacey fire spokesperson said the fire was especially tough to fight because of the roofing materials inside the warehouse. Flames could still be seen as late as 8:30 a.m.

The owner said he wants to get the business open again by Monday. Eighteen employees work at the company.

An investigation into the cause of the fire will start once the building is deemed safe to enter.

The building was secured when firefighters arrived, so at this point, the fire is not believed to be suspicious.

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